CASS Knights celebrate inaugural fully sanctioned TVRA girls’ softball game with a victory

IDCI’s Simone Janess slides safely into second despite the best efforts of CASS shortstop/pitcher Chloe Jones (left) and second baseman/pitcher Morgan Howard (right). (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Beyond a historic first delivery, Woodstock College Avenue (CASS) Knights starting pitcher Morgan Howard put two scoreless innings into the books en route to an inaugural 10-1 Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) Regan Division Girls’ Fast Pitch victory over the Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers.

“Super exciting,” said Howard May 9 at Southside Park’s East Diamond. “It was a good start to our season. The girls played well on the bench and in the field. A good group, attitude-wise and talent too.”

Girls’ fast pitch or softball’s transition to an officially sanctioned team sport has taken several years, says CASS coach Ryan Stafford, noting its three-team origins as club ball several years ago. It has grown to 18 TVRA schools divided into three tiered divisions named after area softball players or builders of note: (Sue) Regan (Tier I), (Amy) Pitcher (Tier II) and (Rebecca) Goudy (Development Tier), respectively.

Last year, the Knights captured the TVRA title, finishing second to a Guelph team in an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) ‘Festival’ championship.

Stafford is both excited and pleased with the sport’s progression to full sanctioning and its own OFSAA event.

“We’re hoping to come with a bang and take it,” said Howard.

The TVRA girls fast pitch journey fittingly opened at Southside Park, home to what Stafford proudly states are the best diamonds in Canada.

Howard and her younger sister McKenzie play outside their high school program with the Waterloo Ghosts, two of seven Tier I club players on the Knights roster.

“They dedicate all their time to this sport and it shows,” said Stafford.

Tier I players from the Ghosts and other programs including the London Lightning, Lucan-Ilderton and UTM2K7 are sprinkled throughout the TVRA’s three divisions, a list including Stafford’s daughter Rylee and Blue Bombers catcher Jorja Kloepfer.

“Jorja is one of the best hitters in Canada,” Stafford credited. “She’s so good.”

“Some of them are absolute bangers,” Morgan Howard agreed. “They can hit.”

However, she got through her two innings of work with four strikeouts, backed up on the mound by Chloe Jones (two innings, five strikeouts), McKenzie Howard (one inning of work, two K’s) and closer Hannah Ryksen, who recorded one strikeout during the sixth and final frame.

“The energy was great on the bench,” said Ryksen.

Offensively, College Avenue’s Payton Jones was 2 for 3 at the plate with three RBI, the Howard sisters and Ryksen all helping their shared cause with 2 for 3 performances. IDCI pitcher/shortstop Erin Plaquet went 2 for 3 at the plate, Kloepfer scoring the Blue Bombers run.

“Honestly, we did better than I expected for the first game,” admitted IDCI pitcher/1B Ella Riddick, whose club team plays out of Tavistock.

“The majority are grade nines,” added Plaquet.

Their goals include winning and improving as a team, along with enjoying playing with and against players they’ve met through club competition, as well as reconnecting with those they haven’t seen since earlier minor ball.

“It’s fun to play with girls you haven’t played with for a while,” said Riddick.

The TVRA regular season is scheduled to close out on May 26 with playoffs and ultimately, OFSAA to follow.

Woodstock CI Red Devils 10, Aylmer East Elgin Eagles 9

A see-saw battle got off to a quick start with WCI leading 5-3 after an inning. Aylmer rebounded to take the lead in the top of the fourth, the Red Devils responding in the home fourth on Alexis Schaefer’s game-winning RBI double, plating Kate Gottachalk with the decisive run.

“It was an excellent way to start the season, a fantastic close game,” said WCI coach Martha Trepanier.

TVRA Girls’ Fast Pitch

May 14

CASS 13, London St. Thomas Aquinas 2

Woodstock CI 13, London Central 7

Woodstock Huron Park 5, London Oakridge 4

May 12

CASS 11, Arva Medway 5

Woodstock Huron Park 6, London Clarke Road 2

London AB Lucas 4, IDCI 3

London Mother Theresa 7, Woodstock CI 5

May 9

CASS 10, IDCI 1

Woodstock CI 10, Aylmer East Elgin 9

Lord Dorchester 5, Woodstock Huron Park 0